US 12,214,553 B2
System for window separation in an additive manufacturing process
Christopher Prucha, San Francisco, CA (US); Joel Ong, San Francisco, CA (US); and John Paton, Eden Prairie, MN (US)
Assigned to Stratasys, Inc., Eden Prairie, MN (US)
Filed by Stratasys, Inc., Eden Prairie, MN (US)
Filed on Oct. 13, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/965,699.
Application 17/965,699 is a continuation of application No. 17/388,598, filed on Jul. 29, 2021, granted, now 11,878,472.
Application 17/388,598 is a continuation of application No. 16/672,415, filed on Nov. 1, 2019, granted, now 11,104,075.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/754,430, filed on Nov. 1, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2023/0035689 A1, Feb. 2, 2023
Int. Cl. B29C 64/364 (2017.01); B01D 71/32 (2006.01); B29C 64/135 (2017.01); B29C 64/245 (2017.01); B29C 64/25 (2017.01); B29C 64/255 (2017.01); B29C 64/379 (2017.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01)
CPC B29C 64/364 (2017.08) [B01D 71/32 (2013.01); B29C 64/135 (2017.08); B29C 64/245 (2017.08); B29C 64/25 (2017.08); B29C 64/255 (2017.08); B29C 64/379 (2017.08); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12); B01D 2313/203 (2022.08)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An additive manufacturing system comprising:
a build window:
facing a projection system;
defining a lamination surface opposite the projection system; and
configured to pass radiation, emitted by the projection system, through the lamination surface; and
a tray assembly comprising:
a tray:
comprising a perimeter support edge inwardly offset from an outer edge of the tray and defining an aperture; and
configured to locate over and engage the build window with the aperture arranged about the build window and with the perimeter support edge offset above the lamination surface; and
a separation membrane:
extending across the aperture;
tensioned over and against the perimeter support edge;
operable in:
a laminated position, the separation membrane laminated against the lamination surface, below the perimeter support edge, in the laminated position, responsive to evacuation of fluid from an interstitial region between the separation membrane and the lamination surface, to form a build surface offset below the perimeter support edge, and the perimeter support edge offset above the lamination surface by a first height in the laminated position; and
an expanded position, the separation membrane forming a convex geometry offset above the perimeter support edge and offset above the lamination surface, in the expanded position to promote separation of the separation membrane from a layer of a resin polymerized over the build surface via radiation emitted by the projection system, and the perimeter support edge offset above the lamination surface by the first height in the expanded position;
a fluid distribution port fluidly coupled to the interstitial region; and
a fluid distribution channel circumscribing the build window and intersecting the fluid distribution port.